KABWE Mayor John Siamuzyulu recently said he feared for the lives of prisoners put on death roll but are not executed on time.

He was referring to prisoners on death roll at Mukobeko Maximum Prison when Amnesty International human rights lawyer Rupert Skkilberk paid a courtesy call on him recently.

Siamuzyulu said he feared for those who have been sentenced to death by the courts because they risk contracting diseases as they await the carrying out of their sentences.

He said these prisoners are sent to the gallows but the sentences are not acted upon immediately. He also bemoaned the lack of equipment and medicine at the prison clinics.

He challenged Amnesty International to work hand in hand with other human rights organisation based in Zambia to achieve their intended goals.

Skkilberk said his organisation is concerned about the people put on death roll and is working out means to see if the President can pardon some of them.

He said his organisation is also concerned about torture and the use of tear gas by police officers.

Skkilberk said this year they were launching a campaign against torture and urged the community to support them.

He urged the mayor to continue visiting the prisoners more often and to carry on with the formed community forum groups to sensitise the public.

Speaking earlier, Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) Lawyer Abraham Mwansa said the Zambian constitution provides for death penalty and that this law can not be amended easily.

He said for this to be achieved the international community needs to come in and table the problem before the African Commission.

Mwansa said people are sentenced but are not executed. He also questioned the ability to request the President to pardon some of the prisoners on death roll.

He further said the international law is the same but the expectations that they are fighting for are different.

Skkilberk said as a human rights organisation they base their action on reports obtained from clients.

The Amnesty group was on a two-week visit in Zambia. They visited all prisons in Lusaka but failed to get in Mukobeko.

He urged the mayor to continue visiting the prisoners more often and to carry on with the formed community forum groups to sensitise the public.

Speaking earlier, Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) Lawyer Abraham Mwansa said the Zambian constitution provides for death penalty and that this law can not be amended easily.

He said for this to be achieved the international community needs to come in and table the problem before the African Commission.

Mwansa said people are sentenced but are not executed. He also questioned the ability to request the President to pardon some of the prisoners on death roll.

He further said the international law is the same but the expectations that they are fighting for are different.

Skkilberk said as a human rights organisation they base their action on reports obtained from clients.